Needle-loom



S. KENDRICK.

NEEDLE LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 1921.

PatenwdSept. 27, 1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET I.

S. KENDRICK.

v NEEDLE LOOM.

APPLICATION EILED 1Au .5, 1921.

Patented Sept. 27, 192 1 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

s. KEN DRICK.

NEEDLE LOOM.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. 5,1921.

PatentedSept. 27, 1921- I a swans-sum a.

l m In lie 32:.

s. KENDRICK, NEEDLE LOOM APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, I921.

Patnted Sept. 27,1921.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 5. g/ s i izilii ii:

s. KEND RICK.

NEEDLE LOOM.

q APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5' 1921- 1,391,958. PatentedSept. 2 7, 1921. v

I s. KENDRICKP I NEEDLE LQQM. APPLICATION F ILED JAN.5, 192i.

Pategted Sept. 27, 1921.

UNITED STATES."

PATENT OFFICE.

INCORPORATED, OF

SETTS'.

' uncommon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 27, 1921.

Application filed January 5, 1921. Serial No. 485,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SOLOMON KENpRIoK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chelsea, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Needle-Looms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to needle looms for weaving elastic or nonelastic fabrics, in which the weft is. laid by a needle in the open shed, and a selvage thread is passed through the loop of weft thread by a shuttle.

,In' accordance with mypresent improvements, '1 employ'an oscillatory shuttle arranged to move about an axis transverse to the warp threads, so that a plurality of shuttles may be operated by a single transverse shaft extending across the loom. 'Theneedles and their operating bar and the shuttles and their operating shaft, are all supported by the breast beam or other appropriate stationary member of the loom, and simple power transmitting mechanism may therefore be employed ,for transmitting power from the crank shaft to the needleoperating bar and shuttle-operating shaft.

On the accompanying drawing Figure 1 represents in front elevation a narrow-Ware needle loom embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 represents a plan view with the" arch or superstructure removed;

F ig.3 represents, on a larger scale, a front elevation of a portion of the breast beam with the instrumentalities supported there- Fig. 9 illustrates thernechanism for actuatin the needle-operating bar;

Fig. l0 illustrates the same elements shown in Fig. 4:, but in difierent positions;

Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a shuttle holder, a shuttle and the operating device for the shuttle;

Fig. 13 illustrates a portion ofthe shuttale-operating shaft;

Fig. 14 illustrates one of the combined bearings and shuttle races or holders;

Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate the mechanism for actuatlng the shuttle-operating shaft;

F igs. 17 to 19 inclusive illustrate the operation of the shuttle and the associated needle;

Figs. 20 to 22 inclusive illustrate another form of shuttle suitable for the purpose;

Fig. 23 illustrates a bobbin.

Proceeding now to a description of the loom which is shown upon the drawings, to the details of construction of which it will 'be understood the invention is not limited,

the loom is provided With the mechanisms common to narrow ware looms by which the warps for the several webs are advanced as the webs are woven, and tension is applied to the elastic warp threads, if elastic webs are being formed. In the end frames 30, 30 is journaled the usual crank shaft 31 by which the batten 32 is oscillated. The heddle' frames are indicated at 33, any usual BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- harness mechanism being employed and operated to form the shed according to the desiredcharacter of the weave-whether plain or fancy. The batten is provided with the usual reed frames 34. for beating in the weft or filling; and there are the usual lease rods 35 for the warp threads of the several webs. lVhile I have shown the loom as equipped to weave only six webs, it will be understood that this is merely for purposes of eXemplifica-tion, as it may be of such length as to weave any usual or desired number of webs.

A characteristic of the illustrated loom is that the needles and the shuttles are all stationarily supported as by the breast beam 36. To this end I employ. a plurality of brackets 37 which are secured by screws or bolts 38 to the inner'face of the breast beam, and which perform the several-functions of supporting the needles and their operating bar, of supporting the shuttle operating shaft, and of serving as holders or races for the shuttles, as will be described. Secured on top of the brackets by screws 39, there is a stationary bar 40, which is parallel with the breast beam; and to this bar is pivoted a plurality of needles 41, one for each web,-

by pivot screws 42. As shown in Fig. 5, the bar 40 and upstanding flanges 43 on the brackets form a guideway for an operating should receive its power from the crank shaft. As illustrated, there is a bevel gear 48 driven by gears 49, 50, from the crank sha which, through a complemental gear 51, drives a shaft 52 journaled in bearings 53, 54 on the left hand end frame 30. The Shaft 52 has a path cam 55, into the groove or path of which projects a roll or truck 56 on an arm or lever 57 pivoted at its lower end on a pin 58 supported b a stationary bracket 59 (see Figs. 8 and 9 The end of the bar 44 is twisted and upturned and is pivoted by a pin and slot connection with the upper extremity of the lever 57, the pin being indicated at 60. By the mechanism just described the bar 44 is longitudinally reciprocated with a differential movement, halting temporarily at each end of its movement by reason of the shape of the groove or path in the cam 55.

Each needle 41 is bowed in the shape of a hook, in plan view, as shown in Fig. 10, and has in its extremity an eye 61 through which the weft or filling (1: passes, and in the bowed portion has a second eye 62 through which the filling asses to the eye 61. Hence when the need e is moved from the position shown in Fig. 10,- where it is out of the shed, through an arc to the position shown in Fig. 4, the weft is carried in the form of a loop into the shed, and the end of the needle projects for a considerable distance beyond the warp threads and lies in front of the woven portion of the web. It will, in this connection, be observed that the pivot 42 for the needle is beyond one side of the web, so that the eyed end of the needle may be easily swung into and out of the shed.

As each loop of filling is laid in a shed, a selvage thread is passed through it by a shuttle, as will now be explained. I have already stated that the brackets 37 afi'ord bearings for the shuttle 0 rating shaft and races for the shuttles. or this purpom, each bracket, as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 14, is provided with a bearing 63, and a lateral extension 64 which terminates in a circular holder or race 65, ha an opening or throat 66. Within each holder is an oscillatory shuttle 67 which carries a bobbin from which the selvage is drawn as uired. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the shutt e has an arcuate side 68 which fits in the race and terminates in a beak 69, and two flat sides 70, 71, forming a body which is recesed to receive a bobbin 72. On one face of the shuttle is the flat leaf spring-73, and on the other face is the cover plate 74, held in closed position by the ressure of the spring bea on the flat si e of the In 75 through whic the pintle 76 passes. e shuttle thread passes through an eye 77, suitable tension devices being employed, but not shown in detail, since the shuttle per 86 does not differ from certain types of sewing ma-' chine shuttles.

Each shuttle is actuated by a shaft indicated as a whole at 78 and consisting of a plurality of connected sections-one for each shuttle. The ends of the shaft are journaled in brackets 37, 79, the last mentioned bracket being supplemental'to those.

at 37 and being located at the left end of the loom as shown in Figs. 2 and 8. Each shaft section, a portion of one being shown in Fig. 13, comprises an end 80 which is journaled in the bearing 63 ofone of the brackets, (which, of course, hasa cap 81) and is socketed or recessed to receive the end 82, of the next shaft section. A cross pin 83 connects the adjacent sections together. A flange 84 engaging the end of the bearing holds the shaft section against longitudinal movement in one direction.

Between its ends, each shaft section is on larged, and is concave-convex in cross section, as shown at 85 in Fig. 13, so that it may pass between the associated shuttle and its race (see Figs. 11 and 12 and is provided with two fingers 86, 87 or loosely engaging the flat sides 70, 71, of the shuttle at points near the outer ends of said sides. Hence when thc shaft is rocked in one direction or the other, the shuttle is likewise rocked thereby-there being a slight oscillatory play of the shuttle between the fingers, to permit the loop of needle or weft thread, to ass around the shuttle as will be descri d. The fingers also tend to hold the shuttle in proper position in the racethe outer side of the shuttle and its beak being curved in an arc of approximately 180.

' The shaft 78 may be oscillated by any suitable mechanism. As shown, however, the shaft 52, at the end of the loom has a cam 88 formed with a path or groove 89 into which projects a roll or truck 90, on the end of one arm 91 of a bell crank ivoted by a pin 92 to an upstanding brac et 93,

(on Figs. 15 and 16). The other arm 94 of the bell crank is connected by a twisted link 95 with "the arm 96 of a lever b a pivot 97 passed. through a slot 98. e arm 96 is formed on a hub 99 loose on a shaft 100 mounted in suitable bearings 101 on the ht. y reason of the construction 'desci i ed,

1'5 needle, that when the needle moves to the a F igs. 1 and 2. The needle or. weft. threads In this casethe beak 69 is just beyond the opening 66 in the shuttle race, and then when the loop of needle thread is laid in the open ing, the shuttle is moved rapidly to the. position shown in Fig. 12, topermitthe beak to enter the loop and the shuttle to be carried through the loop, the-loop of thread passing between the shuttle, and the shaft lIlCludlIlg the fingers thereof. The shuttle race is in such relation to its associated position shown in Fig. 4:, one bi ht of the 00p of needle or weft thread is aid in the recess in the path of the beak of the shuttle as shown in Fi 5,,

InFigs. 21 to, 23 inclusive, I have shown aslightly dilierent form of shuttle in which described. The spring 108 is so bent as toarelatively large bobbin 107 (see Fig. 24) may be employed. In this case, the body of the shuttle and the beak are similar to the corresponding parts in the shuttle previously extend laterally from the shuttle body and cross the bobbin and then hear at its free endon the lug109 of the hinged cover plate 110. The thread emerges through an eye 111,

suitable tension devices, not shown, being employed as required.

The spools of needle thread are located in any suitable place, and. between them and the needles are any convenient form of ten-.

sion and take-up devices. If desired the spools, 112, may beplaced on upright spindles 113 whose bases are placed on the floor in the rear of the crank shaft as shown .in

i q are carried upwardly and over tension and guide devices 114 on the arch 115, and thence downwardly through take-up devices 116 on a bar 117 and under the top bar 118 of the support for the reed frames on the batten, to the needles. Each take-up'device consists of a spring tensioned pivoted two arm lever tionally as itdoes not per se constitute a part of the invention as herein claimed.

- only oneweb, since all the others are woven- I in. the same way.

I shall describe the operation of weaving Assuming that the heddle frames havev been; moved so that the'iwarp threads formthe, breast beam, andmechamsm forpscillata shed, the needle operating bar 44 is moved position shown in Fig. 10 to the. position shown in Fig.4,. (the shuttle a thistime, I y v b .feye in its curved portion, a stat onarypivot Lint; said needle, and means for-oscillating l.said-. ne edle: about its pivot may loopi'of being in the position in Fig. '11 so as to lay-one bight of the needle or .weft thread a position for the beak of the shuttle to enter it. The needle .dwells momentarily, while the shuttle-is partially rotated to the position shown in Fig. 12, so that the loop of weft thread may pass around the shuttle; and the needle then moves in the opposite diiection to draw the loop of Weft thread back into the shed until the shuttle. thread lies against the outside threads of the warp, whereupon the batten moves forwardl and the reeds beatt-he loop'of weft threa into the end of the shed. This operation is repeated with each shift of the warp threads to form a new shed.

To assist the rearward movement of the shuttle, Imay :provide a spring 122, one end of which is secured to the shuttle-operating shaft 78, and the other end to the bearing bracket 79, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

Itwill be observed that the shuttle races and the pivots for the needles. are all stationarily supported by the breast beam or an equivalent-part ofethe main frame, and are Wholly independent of the batten, so that the movements or. operations of the shuttles pivot for each needle is located in front of or beyond the fell of the web, as is, of course, each shuttle, and, by employing a curved needle, one bight of the loop of weft thread may be laid accurately ,in the end of the shed, as best shown in Fig. 4, the two bights of the loopbeing separated by the passage of one of them through the thread eye or guide 62 located in the bowed or curved portion of the needle, so. that the beak of the shuttle may properlyenter the loop.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of making and .using the same,,wi thout attempting to set .forth. all of-the forms in which it may bemade. or all of the modes of its use, what I claimis: p v y I 1. In alneedle loom,'a curved needle, a stationary upright pivot therefor and means for oscillating said needle to layv a loop of weftthread in the shed, in combination with an oscillatory shuttle arranged to. enter and ing' said shuttle. l

2. In a needle loom, a curved needle a threadueye in its free; end and a threa weft thread in the shed, in combination with an oscillatory shuttle arranged to enter and pass a selvage thread through said loop, and a shuttle-operating shaft having fingers for engaging said shuttle and journaled below the plane of the Warp.

3. In a needle loom, an oscillatory needle and means for operating it to lay a loop of weft thread in the shed, in combination with an oscillatory shuttle arranged to enter and pass a selvage thread through said loop, and movable about a horizontal axis transverse to and below the warp.

4. In a needle loom, shedding mechanism, a stationary pivot located at one side of the web and in front of the fell, a bow-shaped needle movable about said axis and having thread guides in its free end and intermediate its ends for the weft thread, mechanism for oscillating said needle through said web to carry the end of the loop of weft thread through said shed, a stationary shuttle race having a recess tolreceive the loop of weft thread, and an oscillatory shuttle in said race arranged to enter said loop and lay a selvage thread therein.

5. In a needle loom, an oscillatory needle, a stationarily-supported ivot therefor located in front of the fel of the web, and means for operating said needle to lay a loo of weft thread in the shed, in combination with an oscillatory shuttle arranged to enter and pass a selvage thread through said loop, and a stationari y-supported shuttle race in which said shuttle may oscillate on a horizontal axis and having an opening to receive a bight of said loop, and a shaft located below the plane of the web and extending into said shuttle race and having fingers for engaging and moving said shuttle.

6. In a needle loom the combination with shed forming mechanism, a breast beam, an oscillatory needle supported by the breast beam, and mechanism for oscillatin said needle to lay a loop of weft thread in the shed, of a shaft supported b the breast beam and arranged in para elism therewith, and a shuttle 0 rated by said shaft for la ing a selvage t read in said loop.

7. n a needle loom, the combination with shed forming mechanism, an oscillatory needle movable about a vertical pivot beyond one side of the warp to. la a 100 of weft thread in the shed, an oscilfittor'y sliuttle movable about a horizontal axis transverse to the warp threads to pass a selvage' through the loop of weft thread, and'mechanism foroperating said needle and said shuttle.

. 8. In a needle loom, the combination with shed forming mechanism, an oscillatory needle movable about a vertical pivot beyond one side of the warp to lay a loop of mama weft thread in the shed, an oscillatory shuttle movable about a horizontal axis transverse to the warp threads to pass a selvage through the loop of weft thread, a reciprocatory bar supported by the breast beam and movable longitudinally thereof for oscillating said needle, and a shaft longitudinal of the breast beam and supported thereby for operating said shuttle.

9. In a needle loom, a stationary circular shuttle race havin an opening in one side thereof, a shuttle dierein movable about the axis of said race and having a beak and a bobbin, a shaft having means for imparting said movement to said shuttle, a pivoted oscillatory needle movable into the shed to lay a loop of we t hread therein and into the opening of said shuttle race, and a stationarily-supported pivot for said needle located in front of the fell of the web.

10. In a needle loom the combination with shedding means for the warps of a plurality of webs, and a needle for each web sup-' orted by the breast beam and adapted to ay a loop of weft thread in the shed, of a plurality of shuttles movable about a common axis, transverse to and out of the plane of the warp threads, and a shaft rotatable about said axis, and in operative engagement with all of said shuttles for moving them about said axis.

11. In a needle loom the combination with shedding means for the warps of a plurality of webs, and a needle for each web supported by the breast beam and adapted to lay a loop of weft thread in the shed, of a plurality of shuttlesmovable about a common axis, transverse to the warp threads, a plurality of shuttle races supported by the breast beam, and a shaft rotatable about said axis, passing through said shuttle races, and having means for operatively engaging all of said shuttles.

12. In a needle loom the combination with shedding means for the warps of a plurality of webs, and a needle for each web adapted to lay a loop of weft thread therein, of a plurality of shuttles movable about a common axis, transverse to the warp threads,

a plurality of shuttle races, a shaft passing through said races and comprising one section for each race provided with lateral fingers, and a shuttle in each race embraced by the fingers of the shaft section therein.

13. In a needle loom, mechanism for passing selvage threads through loops of needle thread, comprising a plurality of brackets each ,baving a bearing and an extension constitutinga shuttle race, a shuttle-o rating shaft journaled in said bearings low the plane of the woven webs and projecting through said races, and a shuttle located in each said race and operatively engaging said shaft.

14. Ina needle loom, an oscillatory approximately arcuate needle which oscillates about a stationary vertical pivot to lay a loop of weft thread through the shed, a shuttlemovable about a fixed horizontal axis and adapted to pass through the loop of Weft thread and lay a selvage thread therein, a common driving shaft, and cam actuated mechanism actuated by said shaft for operating said needle and shuttle inil0 timed relation.

In testimony whereof I have. affixed my signature.

SOLOMON KENDRICK. 

